National Youth Day: A Forgotten Lesson on Unity for Opposition from Vivekananda Memorial

• The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, inaugurated in 1970 by President V V Giri, was built under the leadership of RSS Pracharak Eknath Ranade.
• Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the memorial, receiving a guided tour from Ranade, highlighting cross-political collaboration.
• The memorial's construction involved widespread public participation, with ₹85 lakhs collected from common citizens through one-rupee and two-rupee donations.
• Despite an atmosphere hostile to RSS and Hindutva in the 1960s, the organization successfully mobilized national support for the monument.
• The second phase of the mission led to the establishment of Vivekananda Kendra in 1972, a nationwide service movement inspired by Swami Vivekananda's ideals.

Why It Matters: The Vivekananda Rock Memorial's construction showcased national unity, transcending political and ideological divides.